“I was disappointed at first, but the moment I held you, none of that mattered. You’ll feel the same way the second you see your baby.” Mark froze, his fork clattering against his plate.
“Are you saying…” he hissed through gritted teeth. “Are you saying it’s a girl?” Sarah squeezed her eyes shut as Eleanor nodded calmly. “It’s a girl. And it’s a blessing, Mark. Daughters have a special bond with their fathers.”
But Mark wasn’t listening. He exploded in a rage, shouting that “real men” have sons and that a daughter was a disappointment. The stream of hurtful words seemed never-ending.
Sarah sobbed while Eleanor tried to talk sense into her son, but the night ended with Mark slamming the front door and driving off. “Give him time to cool down,” Eleanor said sadly. But as the weeks passed, things only got worse.
Mark became a ghost in his own home, completely ignoring Sarah. He moved his things into a spare bedroom, cutting her out of his life entirely. He still spoke to his mother, but Sarah was treated like a stranger.
Unable to bear the cold shoulder any longer, Sarah decided to leave. One morning, after Mark left for work, she began packing. Eleanor silently helped her carry bags to the hallway, then pulled her aside.
“I don’t excuse what he’s doing,” Eleanor said softly. “I hope he wakes up before the baby comes. Do what you need to do for your own peace of mind. But promise me one thing.”
Eleanor unclasped a delicate silver bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Sarah. Sarah couldn’t help but notice the birthmark on Eleanor’s wrist—a dark, star-shaped mark. “Put this bracelet on the baby’s wrist as soon as they give her to you,” Eleanor requested.
“Keep it on her for just an hour or two. It’s an old family tradition, a blessing passed down for generations. You can give it back to her when she’s grown.” Sarah nodded, promising to do as she asked.
“You should be there to do it yourself,” Sarah said. “I want you at the hospital.” “I don’t think I’ll make it, honey,” Eleanor sighed heavily. “But I’ll try my best.”
